Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-12

war at Chickamauga- After Chickamauga he was
sented the Army OF the Cumberland before PreSi-
dent Lincoln as an advocate.
In December, 1863 he was called to represent
his district in Congress, where O man OF his
thought was needed and his service to the Army
could be even greater than in the field.
"PAP'' THOMAS BOYS.
sketch Of the Society Of the Army
Of the Cumberland.
HOW THE SOCIETY WAS oRaANIzED-aRy THOMAS
ITS FIRST PREsIDENT-srArrEs IT HAS ERECTED
IN THIS crTY-THR ANNUAL REUNIONS.
The Society OF the Army Of the Cumberland was
organized at Cincinnati In February, 1855, and has
maintained O continuous organization since that
date. There have been seventeen annual reunions
held, and during that long period the member
ship has increased and the interest OF the early
meetings, when the scenes and associations Of the
war were still fresh in the minds of the members,
seem to receive an added impulse as the years 60
by. Age has whitened the locks and made less
active the steps OF "the boys" and many have
answered the last roll CALL but the spirit OF CON-
radeship which prompted the organization Of the
society still exists. and each yearly gathering
brings together from all parts OF the country the
comrades who fought and suffered together in the
great conflict, which new generation now studies
as history.
In December, 1867, an address was issued from
Louisville, signed by the following Officers: Bvt
Nal NAL Gen Eel, VIM D. Whipple Nal Gen: K W: John
q. p. Thruston, Bvt. Brig. Gen. Henry S.ole, and
Capt. E. A. OTIS. 1t was addressed TO the officers
OF the late Army OF the Cumberland, and was as
follows: "Having been addressed by many OF our
former comrades, from eli portions or the country,
IN relation to the formation OF an organization to be
known as the Society Of the Army OF the Cumber-
land, we nave finally deemed 1t best 10 issue Cir
cular suggesting that immediate action be taken
Tor the speedy contamination OF this most honor.
able and desirable project. We owe II to ourselves,
to the country at large to the trIoks OF history,
TO the memories OF the dead heroes who went down
at our sides In every stricken field where the BAN
nerS or the Army OF the Cumberland waved in the
forefront or the battle to the MANNED veterans all
the land TO the sanctned ties formed In those
bitter days which brought out the manhood and
the stern metal OF the nation, that we no longer
neglect SO imperative duty, and one that our no.
performed il a manner so cre0itabie 70 its
own proud record Not only the historic
pas with trimn It's BLENDED memories 81 e eX
the vital interest OF the present and the
coming future, which no man may know, every Inn
pulse OF the heart every sentiment OF patriotism,
every principle Oh wisdom anu OF manhood, make
1t Incumbent upon Us that this matter be longer
deferred. It Is needless, however, TO multiply
OF Chickainaus, stone River, Franklin, Perryville,
Nashville and Utner fields or glory where our col.
uilnS laced Inc horrors OF reoeiiio,s war, speak
for IL most forcefully. Your own memories. your
own hearts, viii plead most eiOquently and
effectively in its behalf. In the further
ance OF this OBJECT therefore, we respect
fully suggest that all officers OF the Army
OF the Late Cumberland, wherever they are
and whatever their occupation, who can possibly
do SO, viii meet i'll convention ~ Cincinnati the
9Th OF FeOi uIry, leCS. Let Us be lagga no
longer. Our path is clear, and honor and duty
alike beckon us to follow it,
THE FIRST MEETING.
This address met with sucn IN encouraging and
enthusiastic reception thai in a few weeks
Gems. Eli Long. Durtin Ward and Henry NJ. Cist,
Co.'S. Stanley Matthews, N L. Anderson L. A.
Harris and Hunter Brooks were designated by the
committee which issued the address To make the
Necessary arrangements for the meeting.
largely attended meeting was held at Hopkins
HALL. Cincinnati, on TIE date named ia the CALL
out the accommodations OF this hail being found
inadequate t.ie suDseouen meetings were held In
Mozart Hall. A constitution was adopted ana
permanent officers were elected. Major Gen. Geo.
Ii. Thomas, the loved commander, was chosen
president, and Gen. Henry II. Cist, at present the
corresponding secretary OK the society, was chosen
recording secretary: The GRAFTON, which has since
been feature Of all meetings OF the society, was
delivered on that occasion by Gen. X. ". Johnston
who eioluentiy sketched the history ana the
achievements OF the Army CT the Cumberland
He said in part: "Ihe Army OF the Cumberland is
the name Which was bestowed in the latter part
OF the year 1862 upon the command assigned at
was composed in good measure Of that Cid Army
OF the Ohio whose real history had already
been written SO braveiy ct Mill SPRINGS
Shiloh, Perryyille, and wnere marches and battles
had already yeteranzed and diSci pinned it in the
best acts Of war. The ard0r and courage or the
Old Army OF the Ohio belong fairly 10 the Army or
tie Cumberland. Its gallant bearing and glorious
work in 1SS1-ts2 under Gen. Buell. are the patti
'moay OF this organization. Dauatless Jackson Of
princely soul, and Terrell, anu WEBSTER and Nei-
son, and Bob McCOOk, with the whole host OF fai.
len heroes who sleep on the wooded banks OF the
re nneSsee. and who went down 'on that rel autumn
nal day at Perryv1ile,' belong as truly TO the
stainless lists OF the Army CT the Cumberland as
do Harker and Sill, and that white piuIned cheva-
ler, silver Tipped Lytie, and all that glorious band
OF soldiers and OF gentlemen who followed them
not only through the leektng horrors OF the battle
shock. but the unlocked portals vi the grave. We
claim them ali as matter OF simple right. It wa2
however, during the long days OF battle at Stone
River that the Army OF the Cumberland nrst bap-
q population more hostile and unreientlng than
that which surrounded XenOphen in his famed
march from the disastrous plains OF Cunaxa. or
legiOns were shattered by the Muscovtte at PuI.
iowa. We fought a sk1llful and determined enemy
upon the field OF his own choice, and after series
CT battles unsurpassed in the whole history of
warfare for their ferceness and tenacity defeated
him, whilst he was yet flushed with the
wrenched the garlands OF victory, as it
appeared, almost from the very hands OF
fate. Then came the wearsome marches through
the mountains and gorges Of Tennessee,
with their ceaSeiess skirmiSiing and strategy. At
Chickamauga the nerve, stubborn courage, and
indonttable spirit OF the Army OF the Cumberland
were vndicated more sgnaly than at any other
period OF its existence. How can portray the
umnS OF the foe at bay with his enctrcled wall OF
steel? Then back through the bitter night we filed
and pitched our camps at Chattanooga, and then
for long wOeful weeks the Army OF the Cumber-
land held its position In the face OF the beieaguer-
ing enemy Without and gripping famine and mortal
disease, grim and unspar1ng, in its very midst,
And next came Lookout and Mission Ridge where
we wiped every stain OF defeat from our shredded
and r1ven banners. After brter breathing spell
we pushed downward into the very vttals OF the
COnfederacy, keeping step with brothers OF the
Army OF the Tennessee, the veterans OF vicksburg
and the Mississippi And it might almost be said,
mated In the capture OF Atlanta and Northern
Georgia, that, like the IsraeliteS OF old we followed
q cloud by day and pillar OF flame by night, for
in that time Dalton, Resaca, keneSaw, New Hope
Peach Tree Greek, JOnesboro, and Altoona and all
those other crimson names OF battle had been
traced blOOdy into the history OF the Army OF the
Cumberland. At Atlanta our legi0nS parted, many
OF them never to meet again this side OF the dim
waters OF death, and the old Army OF the Cumber.
land was never together ain as constituent
whole. The Fourteenth and twentieth Corps with
most OF the cavalry command joined Gen. Sher.
man in that stored march down to the sea- The
old Fourth Corps meanwhile had nobly sustained
the lofty repute OF the old command. At Franklin
it added another plume 70 its chaplet, and made
ready for that resistless and immortal onslaught
with which the enyironed army swept out or its
fortlfcationS ut Nashville a few weeks afterward
and actually and utterly annihtated the veteran
ranks OF the enemy"
THE SUBSEQUENT REUNIONS.
The society sat down to q banquet before
finally adtourning, and this pleasant custom has
been continued In December OF the same year